Monday, March 4, 2013

He's Fine


Frank had his doctors appointment Saturday morning... the long awaited day.  I watched him leave, and for some reason the Wizard of Oz song played in my head... “He’s off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Eyes...”

Bright Eyes...
His list of complaints:  Most of the time his eyes are red, though Thursday and Friday offered moments of white.  Both eyes itch all the time.  The right bottom lid is still not seated on his eyeball...  

On a positive note:  His eyes are looking much moister.  (is that a word?)  His vision is also improving... slowly, but we are thankful that it is happening at all.  For a while we weren’t so sure this surgery was a good move.  The right eye is the one with the lid issues, the left is the one that had the stroke - but looks great.   FYI ~ Frank now has a good side... if you intend to take a photo, come at him from the left... On a sad note, we can no longer call him Mr. Potato Head, as it no longer fits... Frank wants Bright Eyes to be his new nickname.  The kids and I were thinking more along the lines of Chucklehead... The decision is still up for grabs.
  • Though I must say... telling us how the large, brass “Last Super” wall hanging fell off its hook... as you mistakenly stretched your arms into it... causing it to land on your FACE!... does not help plead your nickname case! {Sorry Babe... I think someone has been trying to get through to you... what did you do in your last life?  ...or what did we DO?} 

In all seriousness, Frank has been getting better.  Dr. W is pleased with the progress and continues to say everything is looking quite ‘normal.'   We are starting to embrace the word on new terms.  The next 'transition phase' involves skin tightening, as the lids try to regroup to their new ‘design.’  Time, the great healer, has to do its job.

Given that all is getting back to normal... we decided to take a mini sightseeing, road trip to Captree for some clam chowder, as well as give Mini-man an opportunity to get some miles logged for his Drivers Ed requirements.  It was beautiful.  Though seeing the damage hurricane Sandy caused along the parkway was daunting.  

In closing this brief update, I leave you with this tidbit of a tale.... 

The Drivers Ed instructor told each of his students to find an open space to try out the ABS.  (Anti-lock Braking System)  He wanted each to know what it feels like, under controlled circumstances. 

Frank was sitting in the back seat with Cherub.  I, in the passenger seat... the official front-seat-back-seat-driver.   Cherub argued, “Dad, put your seatbelt on...”  He countered, “I’m fine.”  Back and forth they went.  Alex looked at him eye-to-Bright-Eye, silently requesting and waiting for him to buckle-up.  Frank refused, insisting he was ‘fine.’  {Good Grief...}  I tried, but it only made Chucklehead pissed... “I’m fine.  Just do it!”

SoOoOoo... 

Mini-man was tired of pleading.  Eager to see what this ABS thing was all about, he mashed the brakes... propelling Frank, full force, into the back of my seat - like a bug hitting the windshield, his arms were pinned between his body and the seat back... Everything in the van came rocketing forward.  When I looked behind me, all I saw was an eyeball looking through the space between the headrest and the seat top.  Frank's shocked face was glued, by a mushed cheek to the seat.  

As the van rebalanced, and the forward pressure was removed, Frank dropped to the floor.  We all held our breath.  Frank mumbled and grumbled, “You people are all trying to kill me...”  He made his way back into his seat - putting his seatbelt on with an exaggerated click, “I guess the brakes work good!”  We all {including Frank} burst into laughter... relieved and thankful Daddy was still ‘fine.’  

So today we learned...  Our brakes work great.  Mini-man, Cherub, and maybe even Bright Eyes, will never question the need for a seatbelt... and - oh yea - Frank is ‘fine.’


PS - Cherub - somewhat vindicated in her seatbelt plea - has deemed "I Believe I Can Fly" as Daddy's new song....

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